Photo: "Illuminate to Recreate"
Mono Lake, California
Until last weekend, it had been a while since I'd been out shooting under the full moon. A few years ago, I was able to get out nearly every month and shoot at least one moon night, but life seems to get in the way lately. I guess it's time to start figuring out how to make that happen again.
(This image was a 9 minute exposure taken at ISO 100 and f/16.)
An End To Discrimination
I couldn't think of a more fitting image to post for today to tie into the Supreme Court decision regarding DOMA and gay marriage in California.
The Walker Building at Georgia's Central State Hospital was designed for white males with mental disorders. During the early 1900's, the "coloured" male patients admitted to this asylum were placed in overcrowded tents, while they received a lesser quality of treatment.
Today, we thankfully live in a country where the law does not segregate or discriminate people based on race or sexuality.
June 26th, 2013 is a great day for the LGBT community.
Photo: "When It Rains"
This morning, I woke up to the sound of rain and couldn't help but think about what it was like to watch the rain through the window of a patient room at an asylum like this newer building at Western State Hospital in Tennessee. I wonder if anyone ever counted the drops that landed on the windowsill...
Photo: "Patient Room, Central State Hospital"
This asylum is the oldest psychiatric facility in the state, admitting its first patient in 1842, but this building, the Walker Building, wasn't constructed for four more decades.
Photo: "Beauty and Grandeur"
Construction stopped on the Hartsville Nuclear Plant in Tennessee in 1983, part way into the building process. Once the Tennessee Valley Authority received reports depicting the actual need for nuclear power in the 80's, which was dramatically less than anticipated, the project was cancelled.
Photo: "Fading Away"
The classically influenced and Gothic Revival style Psychopathic Building, known as Polk, on the Western State Hospital campus in Tennessee was constructed in 1932 to assist with overcrowding in the main hospital. The four story building was designed by a Memphis architecture firm and cost $500,000 to build.
Photo: "Stalker Moon"
I'm heading back to this area on Friday and I'm really looking forward to Subaru camping, hanging with friends, shooting and being back in nature.
Photo: "Streetlight Chess"
The Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum opened its doors in 1885, after a grueling thirty years of construction. For the next one hundred years, it treated the mentally ill.
Here, a street light shines into a day room during blue hour.
Photo: "A Forever View"
The Polk Building at Western State Hospital in Tennessee was added to the original Kirkbride campus in 1932, to assist with overcrowding.
Photo: "Secure Entrance"
Inside the guard booth at the main entrance to the Forensic Building, for the criminally insane, at Mayview State Hospital.
Sadly, most of this campus is now demolished.
Photo: "Least Resistance"
Babcock Building at the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum
It's natural to get stuck in a routine, to be so comfortable with something that change becomes frightening, but I truly believe that every ended opportunity leads to another open door full of possibilities. It's not often what we expect, and sometimes not what we think we want, but sometimes it's the best thing for us.
Photo: "In A Perfect World, You'd Remain the Same"
San Francisco from Treasure Island, 6/10/13
I love sitting on the water, watching the clouds pass by as the waves lap the shore.
Photo: "Among the Giants"
Fog at sunrise, Hartsville Nuclear Plant
Construction plans for the nuclear plant in Hartsville, Tennessee began in the 1970's, in preparation for the predicted need for nuclear power in the 1980's and beyond. When reports were presented depicting the actual demand for that type of power, the Tennessee Valley Authority realized the demand wasn't as high as predicted and cancelled the construction of the plant in 1983.
Photo: "Words Roll Off Your Lips"
Blue hour at Lake Tahoe, California
For me, blue hour is usually the most magical time of day. I can always use a little "magicalness" on a Monday morning.